Toxic fumes from Malur metal factory killing cattle: Farmers

Accuse company of running furnaces without permission

Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha taluk unit on Friday staged a protest outside the Chloride Alloys India Private Limited plant near Seethanayakanahalli, alleging the death of a cow after breathing the toxic air emanating from the plant.

A Ashwattha Reddy, district coordinator of the Sangha, who led the protesters, said the factory, run by Chloride Alloys India Private Ltd, is emitting a lot of toxic fumes full of lead and the residents and cattle living the unit are dangerously affected by this. Cattle eating the grass near the unit die, with their stomachs bloating, he added.

Cow dies

A native breed cow, worth Rs 50,000, belonging to Bhadra Reddy, died on Friday.

Apparently, it had eaten the grass in the vicinity of the factory on Thursday. Its stomach started bloating at night and the animal died foaming in the mouth.

The farmers’ union staged a protest, saying there had been at least 17 similar deaths of native breed cows belonging to farmers in the taluk.

‘DC orders’

“The then deputy commissioner had called for a meeting of farmers and the factory owners on September 11, 2011 and instructed to halt work in the factory till the company installed equipment to withhold emission of the toxic fumes,” said the farmers.

“The company has, however, restarted work at the unit without the knowledge of the DC the taluk administration or the officers of the Pollution Control Board, and has also restarted the killing of cattle,” alleged the protesters.

The farmers also demanded that the factory be closed. “If the company fails to do so, the fight will only be intensified,” they warned.

Police intervention

Sub-inspector Shivaswamy, who arrived near the factory, tried to pacify the protesters and spoke to the factory staff members.

He inspected the plant records and found that the company had failed to obtain permission of either the DC or any other officer concerned before restarting work at the plant.

On his instructing the staff members to stop work immediately, the farmers withdrew their protest.

Bedshettyhalli Ramesh, taluk president of the Sangha, H M Munireddy, Lakkur hobli Bhoomiputra Raitha Sangha president, Somashekhar Reddy, Ravindra, Somashekhar and other residents of Seethanayakanahalli were present during the protest.